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European Commission Spokesman's Briefing for 08-12-22
From: EUROPA, the European Commission Server at <http://europa.eu.int>
CONTENTS / CONTENU
[01] Environment: Commission welcomes voluntary agreement on safe storage
of mercury
[02] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of British Energy by
EdF, subject to conditions
[03] Commission adopts special measures to increase interconnection between
Ireland and Britain
[04] Débuts prometteurs du Registre des représentants d'intérêts de la
Commission européenne.
[05] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of St1Avifuels by
StatoilHydro and St1
[06] Industrial new orders down by 4.7% in euro area
[07] 2008 Rural Development report released
[08] Commission clears joint venture between REWE and Coop Switzerland
[09] Commission clears acquisition of Fujitsu Siemens Computers by Fujitsu
[10] Commission clears acquisition of NDS by Permira and News Corporation
[11] La Commission européenne accueille favorablement la création du
REGRT d'électricité
[12] Mergers: Commission clears Teva's proposed acquisition of Barr subject
to conditions
[13] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Continental by
Schaeffler
[14] Déclaration commune de la Présidence du Conseil ECOFIN et de la
Commission sur l'octroi d'une aide financière de moyen terme à la Lettonie
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
Midday Express of 2008-12-22
Reference: MEX/08/1222
Date: 22/12/2008
EXME08 / 22.12
MIDDAY EXPRESS
News from the Communication Directorate General's midday briefing
Nouvelles du rendez-vous de midi de la Direction Générale Communicationb
22/12/08
[01] Environment: Commission welcomes voluntary agreement on safe storage
of mercury
The European Commission welcomes a voluntary agreement to ensure the safe
storage of surplus mercury from the European chlor-alkali industry, once a
ban on exports of the highly toxic metal from the European Union takes
effect. The legislation requires that mercury that is no longer used, be
stored in a way preventing its release. Euro Chlor, the European
association of the chlor-alkali industry – the chemical industry sector
responsible for chlorine and caustic soda production – has agreed to
ensure safe storage under optimal conditions, when the legislation comes
into effect in 2011. This is the first voluntary industry agreement to be
formally recognised by a Commission Recommendation since the adoption of a
Communication on environmental agreements in 2002.
[02] Mergers: Commission clears proposed acquisition of British Energy by
EdF, subject to conditions
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of British Energy (BE) by Electricité de France
(EdF). The Commission's decision is conditional upon EdF´s commitment to
divest the power generation plant at Sutton Bridge in the UK (owned by EdF)
and at Eggborough (owned by BE), to sell certain minimum volumes of
electricity in the British wholesale market, to unconditionally divest a
site potentially suitable for building a new nuclear power station located
at either Dungeness or Heysham in the UK at the purchaser's choice and to
end one of the merged entity's three grid connection agreements with the
National Grid at Hinkley Point in the UK. The Commission concluded that the
transaction, as modified by these commitments, would not significantly
impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any
substantial part of it.
[03] Commission adopts special measures to increase interconnection between
Ireland and Britain
Today, the Commission approved exemptions from rules on regulated pricing
and access for two new electricity interconnectors between the United
Kingdom and Ireland. The new high tension lines more than double the
transfer capacity between the two countries. They will also compete with a
third new interconnection which will be operated by the Irish TSO.
[04] Débuts prometteurs du Registre des représentants d'intérêts de la
Commission européenne.
Lancé le 23 juin 2008, le Registre des représentants d'intérêts de la
Commission progresse bien. Les citoyens européens ont maintenant un accès
direct aux informations sur l'existence, la diversité et la multitude des
intérêts représentés: moins de six mois après l'ouverture du registre,
plus de 700 organisations sont aujourd'hui inscrites et ce chiffre augmente
tous les jours.
[05] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of St1Avifuels by
StatoilHydro and St1
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of joint control of St1Avifuels of Finland by
StatoilHydro of Norway and St1 of Finland. After examining the operation,
the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly
impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any
substantial part of it.
[06] Industrial new orders down by 4.7% in euro area
In October 2008 compared with September 2008, the euro area (EA15)
industrial new orders index fell by 4.7%. In September the index decreased
by 5.4%. In the EU27 new orders declined by 6.3% in October 2008, after
dropping by 5.2% in September. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace
equipment, for which changes tend to be more volatile, industrial new
orders fell by 3.8% in the euro area and by 6.3% in the EU27. In October
2008 compared with October 2007, industrial new orders decreased by 15.1%
in the euro area and by 17.9% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships,
railway & aerospace equipment dropped by 14.0% in the euro area and by
13.2% in the EU27. These estimates are released by Eurostat.
[07] 2008 Rural Development report released
The European Commission released the 2008 report on Statistical and
Economic Information concerning Rural Development in the European Union.
The report provides, at national and regional levels, statistical and
economic information covering the three objectives of Rural Development
(RD) policy 2007-2013. It also contains specific analysis on some selected
topics. An overview of the Rural Development budget over the 2007-2013
period is included together with the first information on the financial
monitoring of RD programmes in EU-27 and in Candidate Countries. The report
is available at <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/agrista/rurdev2008/index_en.htm">http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/agrista/rurdev2008/index_en.htm
[08] Commission clears joint venture between REWE and Coop Switzerland
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the proposed joint venture between REWE group of Germany and
Coop eG of Switzerland. Both companies are active in wholesale and retail
selling of consumer goods. The joint venture, transGourmet, will sell
consumer goods wholesale in Germany. The operation was examined under the
simplified merger review procedure.
[09] Commission clears acquisition of Fujitsu Siemens Computers by Fujitsu
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of sole control of Fujitsu Siemens Computers
of The Netherlands by Fujitsu Limited (Fujitsu) of Japan. Fujitsu supplies
information technology (IT) products and services. Fujitsu Siemens
Computers also supplies IT products and services, mainly in Europe, the
Middle East and Africa. The operation was examined under the simplified
merger review procedure.
[10] Commission clears acquisition of NDS by Permira and News Corporation
The European Commission has granted clearance under the EU Merger
Regulation to the acquisition of joint control of NDS of the UK by Nuclobel
Lux 1 S.Ã .r.l. and Nuclobel Lux 2 S.Ã .r.l. of Luxembourg, ultimately
controlled by Permira Holdings LLP of the UK, and News Corporation of the
US. Permira Holdings LLP is a private equity fund. NDS provides technical
services to Pay-TV broadcasters. News Corporation is a diversified
entertainment company with operations in various media industry sectors,
including films, television; cable and satellite broadcasting and
publishing. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review
procedure.
Rediffusion
[11] La Commission européenne accueille favorablement la création du
REGRT d'électricité
M. Andris Piebalgs, membre de la Commission européenne chargé de
l'énergie, a salué aujourd'hui la création du Réseau européen des
gestionnaires de réseau de transport d'électricité (REGRT-E). Les 42
gestionnaires européens de réseau de transport, qui sont responsables du
plus grand réseau interconnecté, ont signé aujourd'hui un accord pour
créer cette nouvelle organisation qui pourrait devenir l'organisation GRT
prévue par le troisième paquet «marché intérieur». Ce paquet est
actuellement examiné par le Conseil et le Parlement en vue de son adoption
finale au printemps 2009. Les associations déjà existantes comme l'REGRT,
l'Union pour la coordination du transport de l'électricité (UCTE) et
Nordel seront dissoutes et leurs tâches et leurs fonctions seront
transférées à la nouvelle organisation.
[12] Mergers: Commission clears Teva's proposed acquisition of Barr subject
to conditions
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Barr Pharmaceuticals of the US by Teva
Pharmaceutical Industries of Israel. Both companies produce generic
medicines. To remedy the Commission's competition concerns in the field of
cancer drugs and prescription vitamin products on a number of national
markets, Teva made the commitment to divest fifteen cancer drugs in the
Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, as well
as two other drugs in Poland. In the light of these commitments, the
Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would not cause
competition concerns in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial
part of it.
[13] Mergers: Commission approves proposed acquisition of Continental by
Schaeffler
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the
proposed acquisition of Continental AG, a German manufacturer of car
components, by Schaeffler KG, also of Germany. After examining the
operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not
significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area
(EEA) or any substantial part of it.
[14] Déclaration commune de la Présidence du Conseil ECOFIN et de la
Commission sur l'octroi d'une aide financière de moyen terme à la Lettonie
Compte tenu des déséquilibres majeurs de l'économie lettone, accentués
par les tensions sur les marchés financiers, et compte tenu de
l'engagement ferme des autorités lettones à mettre en œuvre un vaste
programme d'assainissement économique, l'Union européenne envisage
d'accorder une aide financière de moyen terme à la Lettonie s’élevant
jusqu'à €3,1 milliards d'euros.
[15] Autre matériel diffusé
• Memo on the EU Mercury Strategy
• Speech by Commissioner Borg 'Speaking points on December Fisheries
Council', Brussels
From EUROPA, the European Commission Server at http://europa.eu.int/
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